Man's Full-length Coat
c. 1790
Medium
Silk, plain weave with supplementary patterning wefts; embroidered with silk floss in satin, single satin, and stem stitches; French knots
Dimensions
119.5 × 37.8 cm (47 × 14 7/8 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
103442
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of late 18th-century fashion this stunning *Man's Full-length Coat*, crafted around 1790. Made from luxurious silk in a plain weave enhanced by supplementary patterning wefts—creating intricate designs woven directly into the fabric—this garment exemplifies the height of European textile artistry. Measuring an impressive 119.5 × 37.8 cm (47 × 14⅞ in.), its full-length form would have draped elegantly on a gentleman of means, likely for formal occasions amid the shifting tides of the pre-Revolutionary era. The coat's surface bursts with hand-embroidery using silk fl...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...